DOING OUR BIT FOR SINGAPORE

As Total Defence Day swings by on 15 Feb, PIONEER talks to six Singaporeans who contribute to Total Defence in their everyday lives.

How did the Singapore of today come about? From the grandparents who toiled in manual labour jobs, to those who worked hard and invested in their children's education, Singaporeans past have done their part for the progress of this country. The baton is now with this generation of Singaporeans.

As 15 Feb approaches, it will soon be 28 years since Singapore introduced the concept of Total Defence in 1984. It might sound like an abstract concept to many, but perhaps what it really boils down to are the little things that we all can do to contribute to our country.

Six people from different walks of life talk about how they've contributed to Singapore in their own way and share how others can do the same.

Engaging the community

Sam Kang Li, Photojournalist

As the Chinese saying goes, "Close neighbours are better than distant relatives". To help neighbours in his Tampines HDB block get to know one another better, photojournalist Sam Kang Li has been shooting portraits of them at their doorsteps since April 2010. The 27-year-old, who is also a partner of Little Red Ants Creative Studio, is currently halfway through taking photos of the 44 households in his point block.

Why did you embark on this project?

"Many photojournalists have idealistic notions of using photography to change communities and societies, but I just wanted to do something very simple that can have a much more immediate impact, so I started with the block of flats I live in.

These photos are just the means to an end. After I'm done taking the photos, I intend to hold a block party and photo exhibition at my void deck, for my neighbours to view photos of other families in the block and mingle with one another. Through this project, I hope to foster this feeling of belonging so that neighbours will be more open to one another."

As a photojournalist, how do you contribute to Singapore?

"I really believe in making a small impact on the community just by using one's skills. What I can do is to do my project well, then share my experiences with others on how I went about doing it and what I've learnt from it. Although I'm just doing it for my block, I hope to inspire other people to do something similar."

Ria Tan, Conservationist

The Singapore that many locals know is one that boasts skyscrapers, shopping centres and endless construction works, but Ms Ria Tan begs to differ. The 51-year-old, who became involved in conservation work after retiring from the civil service, is of the opinion that no one in Singapore is more than an hour away from reefs, seagrass meadows and other amazing sea shore habitats.

Through her www.wildsingapore.com website, she shares news and blogs actively so that more Singaporeans can learn about what Singapore has to offer in terms of nature. Ms Tan hopes that she can encourage other Singaporeans, especially the young and future generations, to discover and care for Singapore's natural heritage. She currently volunteers as a nature guide, and is the co-author of Chek Jawa Guidebook.

What motivates you to do conservation work?

"It's exhilarating to learn about our very own wild creatures and see them go about their daily lives. Even more rewarding is sharing this excitement with others. There's a lot of joy in introducing a child or a child at heart to our wild places and seeing how fascinated they are by nature. What is most rewarding is meeting a community of people who are equally passionate about Singapore's natural heritage."

As a volunteer involved in conservation, how do you contribute to Singapore?

"I believe that Singapore's wild natural places can play a strong role in developing Singaporeans with soul. Former prime minister Goh Chok Tong once asked: 'What kind of Singapore will make Singaporeans proud?', and I feel that Singapore's wild natural places are something that Singaporeans can be proud of. My contribution is helping Singaporeans discover such places so that they too can play a part and learn to care for Singapore's natural heritage."

From local to global

Adrin Loi, Ya Kun Executive Chairman

Synonymous with breakfast in Singapore, the name Ya Kun dates back to the 1940s when Chinese immigrant Loi Ah Koon started serving coffee, tea, eggs and toast from his coffee stall at Telok Ayer Basin. With Ah Koon's youngest son, 57-year-old Adrin Loi, at the helm of the family business as the chairman, the brown, wafer-thin kaya toast has become ubiquitous in Singapore today. Their franchises can also be found in Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan.

What do people say about the Ya Kun brand?

"People from various countries such as the Netherlands, Canada, Ireland, Mexico and the Philippines have tried our kaya toast. Some said that it's the most interesting breakfast they've ever had, some said they were pleased with the ambience and service at the stall, and some said they would tell their family and friends back home about it."

As a businessman, how do you contribute to Singapore?

"By providing jobs for my staff, I'm helping the economy. I also hire older workers; most of my very dependable workers are above 40 years of age. As a family business, I think we help to make Singapore proud. Instead of importing foreign products, we are exporting our local product overseas, putting our flag in different countries. When Singaporeans go overseas, I think they are quite happy to see a Ya Kun stall there.

"Besides running the business, I'm also involved in grassroots events and charities, sometimes sponsoring breakfasts and goodie bags. Doing business shouldn't just be about profit-making. As businessmen, we don't carry arms to defend the country, but we can contribute by getting involved in the community and giving back to it."

T. Chandroo, MMI Chairman & CEO

He went from selling encyclopaedias door to door to selling pre-school books, before becoming the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of Modern Montessori International Group (MMI), a leading pre-school education provider in Singapore. Fifty-eight-year-old Dr T. Chandroo, who firmly believes that early intervention, education and exposure are very important, brought the Montessori method of teaching pre-schoolers into Singapore in 1989. Since then, MMI has grown to operate close to 100 schools in 14 countries across four continents.

Why is education important?

"I have always believed that education is the foundation for continuous development. It improves our quality of life and creates inroads for global and regional success, so I think the business of nurturing young minds is a noble one."

As a businessman, how do you contribute to Singapore?

"I think it's very important to be a socially-responsible organisation, particularly if you are in the business of education, to give value-added education to children who need assistance. You're lending a helping hand for that child to build a better future. I believe no child should be deprived of an education due to financial reasons. That's why in 2009, we set up a centre in Sengkang, called MMI Community Childcare, to provide pre-school education for lower-income families.

I would encourage other businessmen to give back to society in any form they deem fit, be it time or money. It results in a positive experience. As entrepreneurs climb the ladder of success, they must remember the importance of giving back."

Doing S'pore proud

Ismail Yunos, National Footballer

A torn left knee ligament, a damaged right knee cartilage and a broken nose. These are examples of injuries national footballer Ismail Yunos has suffered in his job, but injuries will not stop him from loving "the beautiful game". The 25-year-old defender of Gombak United Football Club, who has been playing in the S.League for the past eight years, had the desire to become a footballer after watching a Malaysia Cup game with his father when he was seven. In his career, he has represented Singapore in matches against countries such as China, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam.

As a national athlete, how do you contribute to Singapore?

"My contribution is playing my best when I represent Singapore. In football, there's no individual player, it's a team effort. But as an individual, what I can do is to train hard, keep up my fighting spirit even when I'm injured, and just give my 100 percent to the game.

Everyone should just give their best in everything they do. Whatever job you are in, doesn't matter if you're the boss or the cleaner, as long as you work hard, you're contributing to make Singapore better."

What is it like representing Singapore?

"There's always pressure when you don the national team jersey and represent your country . This is because the moment you're selected for the national team, it means the country has faith in you and trusts that you will give your best. So you've really got to put in extra effort in the training and the matches to do the country proud."

Boo Junfeng, Film Maker

He made waves in 2010 when his film Sandcastle became the first feature film from Singapore to premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival. With a penchant for telling Singapore stories, 28-year-old film maker Boo Junfeng has won acclaim for his many short films that have been shown in film festivals around the world. He was also involved in the 2010 National Day Parade (NDP) as the visual effects director.

How have responses to Sandcastle been?

"For many people in other countries, it was their first time seeing a film from Singapore, and it was interesting for them to discover a society like ours. I received an interesting comment from an American in Chicago after he watched the film. This guy's never been to Singapore, but he felt that the film was shot with a lot of love, even as it showed the issues that Singaporeans grapple with."

As a film maker, how do you contribute to Singapore?

"I think it's very powerful to see yourself being represented on a big screen. Very often, Singaporeans don't get to experience that because we just watch films from everywhere else except our own country. One way I'm contributing is to tell Singaporean stories to Singaporeans and to the rest of the world.

When I was doing NDP in 2010, I was hoping to make it more than just a spectacle, so I interviewed a lot of people about what it means to be Singaporean. From that experience, I've learnt that there are people who may agree or disagree with how the country is run, but it doesn't mean that they love Singapore any less. That's what I tried to show in the videos, so I'm glad I was able to contribute that way to NDP that year.

N.E.mation! 6

N.E.mation! is back! Now in its sixth year, the national animation competition saw fervent participation as 2,286 students from 90 schools formed teams to produce video clips with storylines based on the theme NS: From Fathers to Sons.

As the year 2012 marks 45 years of National Service (NS) in Singapore, the idea behind this theme is that NS is a duty to protect the country that is passed down from one generation of Singaporeans to the next.

Currently, the top 10 finalists include teams from C.H.I.J St. Joseph's Convent, Evergreen Secondary School and National Junior College. The clips produced by the top 10 finalist teams will be judged by a panel of industry experts, academics and government officials, as well as through public voting, and results will be announced on Total Defence Day on 15 Feb.

Besides having their videos screened on major TV channels in Singapore, the team that emerges champion will win a fully-sponsored trip worth more than $15,000 to visit DreamWorks Animation SKG in the United States.

A slew of attractive prizes also await voters, so hurry and cast your vote for your three favourite videos at www.nemation.sg before voting closes on 7 Feb!